I've been trying to get my hands on a mechanical Brother for some time, and still haven' found one. Around here the only Brothers you seem to find are the electronic daisywheel models. Not bad, but not exactly fast and lack several features of the (much) older IBM Wheelwriters.

I'm curious to see how a manual Brother compares to a contemporary(ish) Olivetti Lettera 32.

Miguel, the L32 and the Brother are really completely *different* experiences. The little Brothers are more like a 60's Hermes Rocket or Olympia SF in typing experience, and the L32 typing experience is really very unique to Olivetti, IMHO.

Rob, that's a great little machine! may it serve you well and often (:

I noticed that the UK keyboard seems to match the one on the Adler Tippa S I just found. What's with you Imperials and your surplus of fractions? Yankee keyboards usually only get 1/2, 1/4 and 3/4. :D

I know! We seem to have loved our fractions. But the odd thing is that, since most of us in the UK made the transition to the metric system for currency and most weights and measures (excepting the Venerable Pint for beer of course) we are much more likely to use tenths than quarters and eighths. Of course, there fractions maintain currency in the States today where the decimal system has yet to infiltrate as full.

Congrats on your little Brother. These are good mini typewriters, although on the noisy side, as you said. Just today, I gave mine away (it's labeled Remington 333) to the librarian who has diligently helped me set up and dismantle my rotating exhibit.